There was a sombre mood at Simone Callahan’s house early Sunday morning as she and her children made final preparations to farewell late cricket icon, Shane Warne.
Guests began arriving at the St Kilda Football Club from about 10am on Sunday, as the who’s who of Melbourne’s sporting scene and Warne’s loved ones farewelled 52-year-old Warne in an intimate ceremony.
Dannii Minogue, Eddie McGuire, Michael Clarke and Merv Hughes were among the guests, with pop star comforted by a friend as she made her way inside the clubhouse.
Warne’s son Jackson, 22, proved yet again that he was prepared to step up for his family in his father’s absence as he led his sisters Brooke, 24, and Summer, 20, to a waiting chauffeur and liaised with security at St Kilda Football Club where Warne’s funeral is being held.
Jackson looked a spitting image of his late father with his long blond hair and tailored black suit as he clutched a golf club and ushered his sisters into the car.
Warne was a keen golfer, particularly after he retired from cricket, and would often travel the world to play in friendly and competitive matches with his mates.
Brooke, who wore a calf-length, chiffon black dress, looking downcast as she stepped into the waiting car behind her brother.
Jackson looked a spitting image of his late father with his long blonde hair and tailored black suit as he clutched a golf club and ushered his sisters into the car
There was a sombre mood at Simone Callahan’s house early Sunday morning as she and her children made final preparations to farewell late cricket icon, Shane Warne
Brooke, Jackson and Summer Warne arrive at St Kilda Football Club and are greeted by other mourners
The trio’s mother, Warne’s ex-wife Simone (pictured), left her house only briefly to say goodbye to her children, who departed well before the private service began at 11am. She slipped into the service via a back door
The trio’s mother, Warne’s ex-wife Simone, left her house only briefly to say goodbye to her children, who departed well before the private service began at 11am.
Meanwhile at the nearby home of Warne’s parents Bridgette and Keith, his mother went for an early morning stroll with a female friend ahead of the funeral.
Police officers and security guards are stationed around the perimeter of the St Kilda Football Club in order to protect grieving loved ones. About 80 of Warne’s nearest and dearest are attending.
Guests began quietly filing in to the clubhouse about 10.30am, while Simone slipped in via a back entrance and greeted immediate family in a separate room ahead of the service.
Warne’s friend Eddie McGuire gave a live cross to Channel 9 before heading inside. He spoke of Warne’s jovial and happy-go-lucky nature, noting he was a ‘friend of The Footy Show’ and loved his life.
‘The reason why he was so loved is because he was fallible, he was Superman. He did the things you dreamt of doing as a kid,’ McGuire said in a moving tribute out the front of the service.
The 52-year-old’s friend Eddie McGuire gave a live cross to Channel 9 before heading inside as a guest. He spoke of Warne’s jovial and happy-go-lucky nature, noting he was a ‘friend of The Footy Show’ and loved his work
‘The magic part about Shane Warne was that he sprinkled his gold dust everywhere he went.’
McGuire said it was fitting the service was held at the St Kilda Football Club, given Warne’s passion for the team and the sport.
‘He could walk with kings but never forgot those who walked around the streets of Melbourne.’
Every guest at the intimate service will receive a Saints scarf in Warne’s honour.
Young fans in AFL jerseys and their parents watched on through mesh gates as friends and family made their way through the open car park and into the building for the funeral.
The Melbourne park, which is normally open and available for kids to play on when there aren’t games scheduled, has become a fortress surrounded by security in blue uniforms and patrolling police officers.
There will be an outdoor element of the send off later on Sunday which is expected to include a photo slideshow. It’s understood this part of the service will be filmed so his fans can watch on later.
At the nearby home of Warne’s parents Bridgette and Keith, his mother (left) went for an early morning stroll with a female friend in the brisk 17C Sunday sun
Bridgette Warne clutched on to her friend as the pair went for a brief walk near her home on the morning of Shane’s funeral
Jackson handed a David Jones bag to an unknown man as he arrived at the location of his father’s funeral on Sunday morning
AFL legend Sam Newman, and former St Kilda players Nick Riewoldt and Brendon Goddard are expected to attend the service.
‘I’m going and I’m humbled to be invited. Like all funerals I think it’s going to be a sombre affair and emotional,’ Newman said.
‘This was extremely shocking to everyone who knew of Shane and to those that knew him well.’
Close friends from the cricketing community will pay their respect, including former England captain Michael Vaughan who has flown in for the private funeral.
Australians players Michael Clarke, Glenn McGrath, Darren Berry, Mark Taylor, and Glenn Maxwell are also going to be in attendance, as will Warne’s poker mates Aaron Hamill, Steven Baker, Luke Tunnecliffe and Campbell Brown.
A second funeral will be held on March 30 at the MCG for a crowd of up to 100,000 fans.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed he will attend the public service – the night after the Federal Budget is handed down.
Jackson was responsible for carrying a golf club presumably owned by his father, who was an avid golfer before his tragic death. He led the way as his sisters and mother followed him out of their home
One of the last pictures taken of Shane Warne hours before his death at a luxury resort in Koh Samui
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and singer Ed Sheeran are expected to send video messages to be played on big screens.
Warne’s former fiancée, actress Elizabeth Hurley was expected to fly out from the UK but revealed overnight she would not be able to attend.
The state memorial will be ticketed and live-streamed for those who can’t be there in person, with tickets to be made available to the public soon.
People wanting to attend the event will be able to enter a public ballot for one of 50,000 tickets. More tickets may become available, depending on demand.
Warne was found unresponsive in his luxury villa at the Samujana resort on Koh Samui, Thailand, about 5pm on Friday, March 4 after suffering a heart attack.
His close friend Andrew Neophitou performed CPR on Warne for up to 20 minutes before first responders arrived and took over, but could not save him.
Shane Warne’s children Brooke, Summer and Jackson (pictured with their dad in London) have shared heartwarming tributes to the cricketing legend and put on a united front in the weeks since his tragic death
Police investigators are pictured speaking with Warne’s friends after his sudden death at his villa on March 4. A post-mortem examination revealed Warne had suffered a heart attack and there were no suspicious circumstances
Warne will be farewelled in a state funeral at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 30. Tributes to Warne are pictured outside Samujana Villas on March 7
